A young Christian in Lahore has been charged with blasphemy after allegedly posting offensive content on Facebook, but he claims his uncle created a fake account to frame him, said CLASS-UK in a Press Release yesterday, 16 September 2025.
Police registered a case against Asher Rasheed Bhatti and his uncle Paul (Samuel) Masih under Section 295-C of Pakistan's Penal Code. The law carries a mandatory death sentence or life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of insulting Prophet Muhammad.
The accusation and counter-complaint
Muhammad Umair, who owns the Old Book Centre bookshop in Awan Market, filed the complaint at Nishtar Colony Police Station. He said he discovered blasphemous sketches and offensive content on a Facebook account named "Asherbhatti" on September 14 at 10:00 AM.
Umair alleged that Asher's uncle, Paul Masih, who lives in Thailand, had commented on the posts. He claimed this made the situation worse by "inciting hatred and injuring the religious feelings of Muslims."
Police assigned the case number FIR No. 6285/25 and sent it to the Investigation Wing for further inquiry.
Bhatti has fought back against the charges. He filed a counter-complaint with the National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Lahore, saying he is innocent.
Bhatti claims his uncle Samuel Paul created a fake Facebook account using his name and photograph. And then his uncle posted the offensive material to frame him deliberately.
The accused man describes himself as a law-abiding citizen and serves as an Altar Boy at St. Matthew's Church in Awan Market. In his application, he stated that he holds "deep respect for all Prophets, religious figures, and all religions."
Bhatti also said his uncle had been making threats through his personal Facebook account, causing him severe mental stress and putting his life in danger. He asked authorities to block the fake account and take legal action against his uncle.
After the blasphemy case was filed, Bhatti went into hiding at an unknown location for his safety. The area around Nadeem Chowk in Awan Market remains tense as both police and cyber-crime investigators continue their work.
Expert response
Section 295-C is one of Pakistan's most controversial laws. Critics say these laws are often misused to target minorities and settle personal disputes.
Nasir Saeed, Director of CLAAS-UK (Centre for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement), strongly criticized the case.
"This is yet another tragic example of how Pakistan's blasphemy laws are being grossly misused," Saeed told Christian Today. "Asher Bhatti is innocent, yet he has been forced into hiding because of a false accusation."
Saeed pointed out that this case follows a disturbing pattern. "Sadly, his case is not unique – thousands of innocent people, including women and children, are currently languishing in prisons under false blasphemy charges," he said to Christian Today. "Several others have been murdered by vigilantes before their trials could even take place."
The CLAAS-UK director warned about the growing misuse of social media in blasphemy cases. "Social media is increasingly being weaponised to fabricate cases, settle personal scores, and inflame communal tensions," he explained.
Saeed called for immediate government action. "Unless urgent reforms are made to stop this abuse, more innocent lives will be ruined. The government must act now to ensure that no one can exploit these laws for personal gain or religious persecution."
The Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS) works to protect Christians facing persecution in Pakistan. The organization provides free legal help to victims of religious intolerance and offers shelter and financial support to affected families. CLAAS also works internationally to raise awareness about the treatment of Christians in Pakistan and advocates for religious freedom.
